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Paul ‘bear’ Bryant was a football coach

Sport(s)         Football

Biographical details

Born   September 11, 1913

Fordyce, Arkansas

Died    January 26, 1983 (aged 69)

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. Bryant's record in 38 years at Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Alabama was 323-85-17 (.780). He took 29 teams to bowl games and led 15 to conference championships. In the 1960s and 1970s, no school won more games than Alabama (193-32-5). Bryant's football career began as an eighth-grader playing for Fordyce High School. He had never seen a game when he played in his first, as an offensive end and defensive lineman. Considered a fierce hitter, Bryant earned All-State honors as a senior and led Fordyce to a state championship. Despite failing to graduate with his class, Bryant accepted an athletic scholarship to Alabama. Upon arriving in Tuscaloosa in 1931, he enrolled in high school for the fall semester to earn his degree while practicing with the Crimson Tide.

Considered the other end to future Hall of Fame receiver Don Hutson, Bryant helped Alabama go 23-3-2 from 1933 to 1935. He was a second-team All-SEC selection in 1934 and a third-team pick in 1935.

In June 1935, Bryant secretly married Mary Harmon. Their first of two children, Mae Martin, was born nine months later. Paul Jr. was born in 1944.After graduating in 1936; Bryant was an assistant coach with Alabama for four years and Vanderbilt for two. Just when it appeared as if he might become Arkansas' head coach, the U.S. entered World War II. Bryant served in the Navy, on the U.S.S. Uruguay, before becoming the head coach of a preflight training school football team in North Carolina. When the war ended, Bryant was named head coach at Maryland. The Terrapins went 6-2-1 in 1945, but Bryant resigned after the season because he deemed the school's president as meddlesome. Hired by Kentucky, Bryant immediately revived a dormant program, leading the Wildcats to a 7-3 mark in 1946.In eight seasons; Bryant's Wildcats went 60-23-5 and earned four bowl berths. The highlight was an SEC championship in 1950 and a 13-7 upset of No. 1 Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. After the 1953 season, Bryant signed a 12-year contract extension at Kentucky, with hopes of making football the school's primary sport. Within weeks, however, he realized popular basketball coach Adolph Rupp was also ready to receive an extension. Bryant had earlier been told by the school's president thatRupp would be fired for rules violations. Feeling as if he had been duped, Bryant quit.

Bear Bryant

Bryant took Alabama to bowl games in his final 24 seasons.

That led him to Texas A&M, where he was given the job of athletic director as well as coach. Bryant's six-year contract was for $25,000 per season plus it called for him to receive an unprecedented one percent of the gate.

Bryant wasted no time trying to reshape the Aggies. His first preseason camp (many referred to it as boot camp) was held in Junction, Tex., in the 100-degree heat. Bryant started camp with 111 players, but all except 35 quit within 10 days. Among Bryant's tests of toughness was banning water breaks for his players.

The Aggies went 1-9 in 1954, the only losing season of Bryant's career. Two years later, though, they went 9-0-1 and won the Southwest Conference championship. However, Texas A&M didn't get invited to the Cotton Bowl because of a two-year bowl ban imposed by the NCAA the previous year for widespread rules violations, including players receiving money.

After leading the Aggies to an 8-3 record in 1957, Bryant was asked to return to his alma mater. Bryant said it was if he had "heard mama calling" and signed a 10-year contract to become Alabama's head coach and athletic director.

Bryant revived a floundering program, leading the Crimson Tide to a 5-4-1 record his first season, one more victory than the school had in the three previous years combined. Alabama went 7-2-2 and a No. 10 ranking in 1959, starting a string of 24 straight postseason appearances under Bryant.

In the 1960s, Alabama ruled college football, winning national championships in 1961, 1964 and 1965. But even Bryant's top players weren't exempt from the coach's wrath. Joe Namath was suspended for the final two games of the 1963 season for violating Bryant's no-alcohol policy and Ken Stabler was booted from the team in 1967 for cutting class and partying. Both eventually got second chances.

After the 1969 season, Bryant mulled a $1.7-million offer for five seasons to coach the Miami Dolphins. The money tempted Bryant, but he remained, saying he was secure financially and would never leave Alabama just for financial reasons. For years, Bryant defended charges of racism by saying the social climate didn't allow him to go after black players. In 1970, Bryant recruited Wilbur Jackson asAlabama's first African-American scholarship player. The following season, junioRupp would be fired for rules violations. Feeling as if he had been duped, Bryant quit.

Bear Bryant

Bryant took Alabama to bowl games in his final 24 seasons.

That led him to Texas A&M, where he was given the job of athletic director as well as coach. Bryant's six-year contract was for $25,000 per season plus it called for him to receive an unprecedented one percent of the gate.

Bryant wasted no time trying to reshape the Aggies. His first preseason camp (many referred to it as boot camp) was held in Junction, Tex., in the 100-degree heat. Bryant started camp with 111 players, but all except 35 quit within 10 days. Among Bryant's tests of toughness was banning water breaks for his players.

The Aggies went 1-9 in 1954, the only losing season of Bryant's career. Two years later, though, they went 9-0-1 and won the Southwest Conference championship. However, Texas A&M didn't get invited to the Cotton Bowl because of a two-year bowl ban imposed by the NCAA the previous year for widespread rules violations, including players receiving money.

After leading the Aggies to an 8-3 record in 1957, Bryant was asked to return to his alma mater. Bryant said it was if he had "heard mama calling" and signed a 10-year contract to become Alabama's head coach and athletic director.

Bryant revived a floundering program, leading the Crimson Tide to a 5-4-1 record his first season, one more victory than the school had in the three previous years combined. Alabama went 7-2-2 and a No. 10 ranking in 1959, starting a string of 24 straight postseason appearances under Bryant.

In the 1960s, Alabama ruled college football, winning national championships in 1961, 1964 and 1965. But even Bryant's top players weren't exempt from the coach's wrath. Joe Namath was suspended for the final two games of the 1963 season for violating Bryant's no-alcohol policy and Ken Stabler was booted from the team in 1967 for cutting class and partying. Both eventually got second chances.

After the 1969 season, Bryant mulled a $1.7-million offer for five seasons to coach the Miami Dolphins. The money tempted Bryant, but he remained, saying he was secure financially and would never leave Alabama just for financial reasons.

For years, Bryant defended charges of racism by saying the social climate didn't allow him to go after black players. In 1970, Bryant recruited Wilbur Jackson as Alabama's first African-American scholarship player. The following season, junior-college transfer John Mitchell became the first black to play for Alabama. By 1973, one-third of the team's starters were African-American. The Crimson Tide were 11-0 and ranked No. 1 in 1973 before losing 24-23 to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. A heavy drinker, Bryant secretly checked himself into alcohol rehab in the spring of 1978. He stayed a month and later resumed drinking.

Alabama's final national championships under Bryant came in the 1978 and 1979 seasons when it went 23-1.

In November 1981, a 28-17 win over Auburn was Bryant's 315th career victory, enabling him to pass Amos Alonzo Stagg's all-time record. (Later, Pop Warner was recognized with 319 victories.) Following an 8-4 season in 1982, Bryant retired. On Jan. 26, 1983, he died from heart failure. Bear Bryant was 69. "He wasn't just a coach," former USC coach John McKay said. "He was the coach."

r-college transfer John Mitchell became the first black to play for Alabama. By 1973, one-third of the team's starters were African-American.

The Crimson Tide was 11-0 and ranked No. 1 in 1973 before losing 24-23 to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.

A heavy drinker, Bryant secretly checked himself into alcohol rehab in the spring of 1978. He stayed a month and later resumed drinking.

Alabama's final national championships under Bryant came in the 1978 and 1979 seasons when it went 23-1.

enabling him to pass Amos Alonzo Stagg's all-time record. (Later, Pop Warner was recognized with 319 victories.) Following an 8-4 season in 1982, Bryant retired. On Jan. 26, 1983, he died from heart failure. Bear Bryant was 69.

"He wasn't just a coach," former USC coach John McKay said. "He was the coach."